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City Council Holds Hearing On Banning Energy Drinks

The drink 5-Hour Energy is viewed for sale at a grocery store on November 15, 2012 in New York City. The federal government and the New York Attorney General's office have announced that they are investigating the popular energy drink after the Food and Drug Administration received claims that 5-Hour Energy has over the past four years led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (CBS) — A proposal to end or limit the sales of some energy drinks in Chicago has been the subject of a contentious hearing before a city council committee, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

The makers of those beverages reject assertions that the drinks have contributed to deaths and hospitalizations, but Burke questioned attorney Stuart Pape of the American Beverage Association about the warnings on a can of Monster.

City Council Holds Hearing On Banning Energy Drinks

“Why is it that your clients don’t recommend that children consume that product,” Burke questioned.

Pape responded,” I don’t want to speculate about why. I think that caffeine is a perfectly safe, as FDA has concluded…”